Objective

To investigate the factors associated with mental health service use among young children.

Method

Five hundred ten preschool children aged 2 through 5 years were enrolled through 68 primary care physicians, with 388 (76% of the original sample) participating in a second wave of data collection, 12 to 40 months later.

The test battery included the Child Behavior Checklist, a developmental evaluation, the Rochester Adaptive Behavior Inventory, and a videotaped play session (preschool children) or structured interviews (older children).

At wave 2, mothers completed a survey of mental health services their child had received.

Results

In logistic regression models, older children, children with a wave 1 DSM-III-R diagnosis, children with more total behavior problems and family conflict, and children receiving a pediatric referral were more likely to receive mental health services.

Among children with a DSM-III-R diagnosis, more mental health services were received by children who were older, white, more impaired, experiencing more family conflict, and referred by a pediatrician.

Conclusions

Young children with more impairment and family conflict are more likely to enter into treatment.

Services among young children of different races with diagnoses are not equally distributed.